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t e e h, S m e e h S 2 & Hm H NU RA 0M NG .N m IS JA W a d o w PatentedApr. 5, 1887.

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(ModeL) J. E.-NO RTH. WASHING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 5, 18.87.

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UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES'E. NORTH, OF PENN YAN, NEXV YORK.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION iomning part of Letters Patent No. 360,461, dated April 5,1887.

Application filed May 20.1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J Arms E. NORTH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Penn Yan, in the county of Yates and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Washing-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in washing-machines; and itconsists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices thatwill be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed outin the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is partly a side elevation and partlyavertical longitudinal section of my invention. Fig. 2 is partly a topplan view and partly a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is atransverse section, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the rubber.

This invention is an improvement on the washingmachine for which LettersPatent of the United States No. 124,651 were granted to me March 12, 1872.

A represents a rectangular vertical frame, in which is secured acylindrical horizontal suds-box, B, which is made of wood and lined withzinc. In one end of the SlldSJJOX is swiveled a short horizontal shaft,0, to the inner end of which is attached arotating rubber, D, having anupwardly-projecting handle or lever, E,which extends above the top ofthe machine. Near the lower end of this handle, which extends across therear side of the r0 tating rubberyis secured a horizontally-projectingstud or caster, F, in which is j ournaled a bearing-roller,G,which bearsagainst the adjacent end of the suds-box. Through the opposite end ofthe sudsbox extends a horizontally-movable piston-rod, H, to the innerend of which is attached a reciprocating piston, I, which corresponds insize and shape with the rubber D. The rubber and the piston are providedon their opposing faces with circular recesses, as shown. The piston-rodH is square and extends through a square opening made in one end of thesuds-box, to prevent the piston-rod and the piston from rotating in thesudsbox. To the front end of the frame is journaled a horizontalrock-shaft, K,which is provided at one end with an operating-lever, IJ,and from the center of the said rock-shaft projects a rocking arm, M.

The said arm is at Serial No. 202,788. (Model) tached to the piston H bymeans of a link, 0, the ends of which are connected to the piston and tothe arm M.

N represents a cover,which is hinged to one end of the suds-box on theupper open side of the same.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The articles to be washed,together with a suitable quantity of boiling suds, are placed in thesuds-box between the rubber D and the piston I. The lever L is thenoperated, so as to cause the piston to reciprocate in the suds-box, andthereby compress the clothes between the said piston and the rubber, andforce the wa ter through and through the clothes, and thereby loosen thedirt. This operation is continued for a suitable period of time,andthelever M is then moved inwardly, so as to compress the clothes betweenthe piston I and the rubber D,when the latter is oscillated or rotated,first in one direction and then in the opposite directio n, by means ofits handle E, thus thoroughly rubbing the clothesin the suds. Thefunction of the roller G is to prevent the rubber from tilting' on itsshaft and to avoid excessive friction.

I am aware that it is old to provide a washing-machine comprising arotating rubber and a reciprocating pounder, and this I disclaim. In mymachine I provide an oscillating rubber and a reciprocating piston orpounder,both of which are worked by hand. In practice the operator worksthe oscillating rubber by his right hand and the piston with his lefthand, the handles for both being within convenient reach for thispurpose. By this arrangement the operator can force the piston-head I indirect contact with the oscillating rubber-head D by positive pressure,so as to hold the clothes while working the oscillating rubber, as issometimes necessary. \Vhen this is done, the friction-roller Gmaterially assists the working of the rubber D. The squareshape to thepiston-rod H overcomes any tendency of the head I to rotate while theheadD is oscillated,whieh would cause the wrenching or disengagement ofthe working parts. Flanges a are provided on the top of the cover, sothat when the latter is thrown back, as indicated in Fig. 1, saidflanges serve to support the cover and take the strain off the hinges.Not only does the friction-roller G assist the working of the parts,

but, by reason of the fact that it is arranged on one side of thepivot-point for the rubber D, all strain is taken off the pivot of saidrubber by the employment of thefriction-roller G in the position shown.

Having thus described my invention, I claim In a Washing-machine, thecombination of a suds-box, a reciprocating non-rotatable pistonoperating therein and having an angular pist0n-rod passing through oneend of the sudsboX, a rock-shaft having a lever and connected byintermediate links with the rod of the piston to operate the same, aswiveled shaft or bearing connected to the opposite end of the suds-box,through which the shaft passes, an oscillating rubber supported on thisshaft or tion-roller, which rides against the end of the suds-box towhich the swiveled shaft is con nected, as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. NORTH.

Witnesses:

A. E. CHAPMAN, J. P. COMINGS.

